Lily's Seafood Grill & Brewery in Royal Oak, Michigan: A Restaurant Review
Royal Oak is blessed with a number of good restaurants, but if you're in the mood for seafood in a casual atmosphere, there is no better place to go than Lily's Seafood Grill & Brewery. Situated on Washington just south of Fourth Street, Lily's has been a Royal Oak favorite for many years. With friendly waitstaff, some of whom have been there for years, Lily's is a bar and grill with seafood flair.
The regular menu contains many seafood staples a diner would find anywhere, but Lily's offers fishy fare with a definite twist. Soups include the standard Creole, a spicy mix of Andouille sausage, crawfish tails, and chicken breast (cup $3.99, bowl $4.99), but you can't go wrong with the New England clam chowder, the soup du jour on many Fridays.
Among the many starters on the regular menu, standouts include the Southwestern shrimp ($8.99), served hot in a creamy-spicy sauce with plenty of jalapeno strips swimming in the cream; the mussels ($8.99) steamed in Chardonnay, garlic, and topped with Huntsman cheese crumbles; and the sushi grade seared ahi tuna ($7.99), served with greens and drizzled with a balsamic reduction. Even the calamari ($7.99) is served just left of center, with a pepperocini relish instead of the traditional marinara sauce.
Regular menu entrees include a kick-butt char grilled salmon ($17.99), Caribbean scallop plate ($20.99), and three-cheese ravioli ($17.99). Most regular menu items include starch such as rice or new potatoes and a vegetable medley. The big secret is that Lily's will prepare your fish anyway you want. For example, I always get the salmon medium rare, and have them prepare the scallops with a sesame coating and then flash fried instead of being steamed. For those non-fish eaters, alternatives are available, including chicken, pork chops, and steak (and yes, the steak is quite good!).
Even Lily's sandwiches are fabulous. The best include the blackened tuna burger ($9.99), the pesto chicken sandwich ($8.99), and the Huntsman cheeseburger ($9.99). The blackened catfish wrap ($8.99) is spicy and wrapped with cooling cucumber, and even the pulled pork sandwich ($9.99) is worth a spin. All sandwiches are served with chips and salsa, with sweet potato fries as an option for an additional fee.
But wait! Don't stop at the "regular menu." Lily's specials menu isn't called "special" for nothing! Featuring the soup of the day, a special salad, a few special appetizers, and a list of one-of-a-kind entrees, true culinary gems can be found, as good as any on a chi-chi upscale establishment. The best specials menu can be found on Friday nights. Last night's offerings included a massive amount of crab legs (both snow and king - $28 - $34) in celebration of the cast of the Deadliest Catch being in town, a lobster claw appetizer ($9.99), and shrimp pizza ($9.99). Look for items in season; during softshell crab season, appetizers can be found featuring it; there are sometimes oysters Rockefeller or prepared in some other way. Fresh fish dishes lean toward the inventive, using ingredients like beets, risotto, Asian slaw, and other treatments too many to mention.
Lily's has an in-house brewery, and I'm told the beer's not bad. They also brew their own root beer. There is also a decent wine list that changes frequently, giving the oenophile diner a wonderful taste from all over the world. A full bar is available as well.
If you survive dinner and have room for dessert, the Sanders cream puff ($5.99) is a favorite. Home made cream puffs are split in two, a large ball of ice cream inserted, and the whole thing is doused with Sanders hot fudge. Coming in second (tied) is the Michigan upside down cherry cake ($4.99) and the Key lime cheesecake ($4.99).
Lily's is kid friendly, with an extensive children's menu, ranging from pizza, pasta, corn dogs, chicken planks, fruit plate, and of course, fish.
Lily's does not take reservations, but will take call-ahead seating. If you go, tell them the "Friday's" sent you.
Lily's Seafood Grill and Brewery
410 S. Washington
Royal Oak, MI 48067
248.591.LILY
248.591.5459
http://www.lilysseafood.com/index.html
The regular menu contains many seafood staples a diner would find anywhere, but Lily's offers fishy fare with a definite twist. Soups include the standard Creole, a spicy mix of Andouille sausage, crawfish tails, and chicken breast (cup $3.99, bowl $4.99), but you can't go wrong with the New England clam chowder, the soup du jour on many Fridays.
Among the many starters on the regular menu, standouts include the Southwestern shrimp ($8.99), served hot in a creamy-spicy sauce with plenty of jalapeno strips swimming in the cream; the mussels ($8.99) steamed in Chardonnay, garlic, and topped with Huntsman cheese crumbles; and the sushi grade seared ahi tuna ($7.99), served with greens and drizzled with a balsamic reduction. Even the calamari ($7.99) is served just left of center, with a pepperocini relish instead of the traditional marinara sauce.
Regular menu entrees include a kick-butt char grilled salmon ($17.99), Caribbean scallop plate ($20.99), and three-cheese ravioli ($17.99). Most regular menu items include starch such as rice or new potatoes and a vegetable medley. The big secret is that Lily's will prepare your fish anyway you want. For example, I always get the salmon medium rare, and have them prepare the scallops with a sesame coating and then flash fried instead of being steamed. For those non-fish eaters, alternatives are available, including chicken, pork chops, and steak (and yes, the steak is quite good!).
Even Lily's sandwiches are fabulous. The best include the blackened tuna burger ($9.99), the pesto chicken sandwich ($8.99), and the Huntsman cheeseburger ($9.99). The blackened catfish wrap ($8.99) is spicy and wrapped with cooling cucumber, and even the pulled pork sandwich ($9.99) is worth a spin. All sandwiches are served with chips and salsa, with sweet potato fries as an option for an additional fee.
But wait! Don't stop at the "regular menu." Lily's specials menu isn't called "special" for nothing! Featuring the soup of the day, a special salad, a few special appetizers, and a list of one-of-a-kind entrees, true culinary gems can be found, as good as any on a chi-chi upscale establishment. The best specials menu can be found on Friday nights. Last night's offerings included a massive amount of crab legs (both snow and king - $28 - $34) in celebration of the cast of the Deadliest Catch being in town, a lobster claw appetizer ($9.99), and shrimp pizza ($9.99). Look for items in season; during softshell crab season, appetizers can be found featuring it; there are sometimes oysters Rockefeller or prepared in some other way. Fresh fish dishes lean toward the inventive, using ingredients like beets, risotto, Asian slaw, and other treatments too many to mention.
Lily's has an in-house brewery, and I'm told the beer's not bad. They also brew their own root beer. There is also a decent wine list that changes frequently, giving the oenophile diner a wonderful taste from all over the world. A full bar is available as well.
If you survive dinner and have room for dessert, the Sanders cream puff ($5.99) is a favorite. Home made cream puffs are split in two, a large ball of ice cream inserted, and the whole thing is doused with Sanders hot fudge. Coming in second (tied) is the Michigan upside down cherry cake ($4.99) and the Key lime cheesecake ($4.99).
Lily's is kid friendly, with an extensive children's menu, ranging from pizza, pasta, corn dogs, chicken planks, fruit plate, and of course, fish.
Lily's does not take reservations, but will take call-ahead seating. If you go, tell them the "Friday's" sent you.
Lily's Seafood Grill and Brewery
410 S. Washington
Royal Oak, MI 48067
248.591.LILY
248.591.5459
http://www.lilysseafood.com/index.html
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION:
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.
Published by Joanne Huspek
Mother, wife, business owner, in any given order but usually all at once. My interests include writing, violin, food, wine, photography, art, California; I like to travel. When the mayhem ebbs, you'll find m... View profile
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